Water relief valve



Nov. 3o, 1926. 1,608,61?

s. F. RICHARDS WATER RELIEF VALVE Filed June 21', 1926 INVENTOR .Patented Nov. 1926..

UNITED STATES4 saMUnL FQRICHA A'PATE BDS, -OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER RELIEF Application insti/.Tune 21, 1926. Serial Hof 117,269.

-The invention relates to pressure relief valves, designed `pi'lmarlly for use 1n hot ywater heating systems, but not limited to` use in that particular relation. It has j forv its principal objcts,'the provision of a relief valve of very simple cheapgconstruc; tion having` a minimum number of parts and not liable to get out of order under long continued service. Further objects are the provision of a valve in which the tendency of sediment or foreign substances to collect around the seat and thus cause sticking or imperfect lclosure is very largely avoided. and in which all danger ofthe valve becoming locked shut through a failure of the spring or other parts is entirely eliminated. Other objects and advantages,

.s incident to the structure will be readily .ap-

parent to those skilled-in the art. Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through one embodiment of the valve. Fig., 2 is a sec- "tion on the line II-II'of Fig. 1. And Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing a modified valve seat construction. y

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the valve casing having the outlet opening 2 to which a suitable pipe may be connected leading tojthe floor 0f the cellar or basement, or to a drain. Clamped to the top of the casing by means of the series of bolts 3, is the cap 4, a diaphragm fiof rubber or other suitable flexible material having its edges gripped between the opposing flanges of the casing and cap.. This capvis provided with aninlet 6 connected by a suitable pipe l with one of the mains of the heating system.

Extending through the diaphragm 5, is the hollow stem 7 of brass or other suitable metal. The upper end of thestem is con-- nected to the diaphragm by meansv of the metal collars 8 and-9, screw threaded onto the stem, and clamping thediaphragm therebetween. The collar` 8 is recessed, as shown, and carries a valve ring 10 ofV rubber fiber, or other suitable composition. This disc engages the valve seat or disc 11, secured to the -cap 4 by means of the screw 12. The screw fits loosely in 4the'seat 1 1, and hasiits upper face'convex, so that the lower face ofthe seat canaccommodate-it- -self to the-valve disc, in case such disc or tilted, due to ywearer accident or to foreign the stem carrying it should become slightlymatter becoming interposed between the Jvalve disc and itsseat.

Pro'ecting inward from thecasing adja-- cent t e outlet 2 are the lugs 13, in l"which is screw threaded the adjusting sleeve 1.1., having at its upper end the flange 15. `The lower end of the valve stem `7 4is guided in the sleeve 1li-and a springlG is interposed' between the flange 15 and the collar 9. The sleevev serves as an adjusting means for varying the tension of the spring, so that the' valve may be adjustedto open when the pressure inthe chamber 17 reaches the predetermined point, which it is desired shall not be exceeded in the system. lIn order to permitthe adjusting of the sleeve from outside the casing 1, the sleeve is preferably provided with a plurality of perforations 18 adapted to be engaged by theprongs ol 'an expanding tool orwrencln'which is inserted through ythe outlet 2. The valve is adjusted and )set-before leaving the shop .in which it is assembled, and after once being set, the adjusting sleeve, because of its location, is not liable to be subject to inadvised manipulation or accidental mis- Qadjustment.

`Even when the sleeve is at its lowest point` of adjustment, its lower end is stillreinoved a slight distance from the end of the inlet 2, thus providing the drain ports or passageways 419 from the chamber 20 to the outlet 2. This is of advantage, incase thov chamber becomes filled with water, due to a failure of the diaphragm 5 or to other l leakage. lllnder such conditions, and with out the drain ports, the valve would he locked shut, and the apparatus would nolonger function as a safety device. The ,drain orrelief ports 19 guard against this difficulty, as any water, which collects in the casing immediately drains away lby gravb9 ity. f

In the. modification of Fig.l 3 the valve seatll is' omitted, and the valve ring 'or V disc" lOlvis caused'to engage. the ground seat 11'? integral with the cap 4a, The construction is in other respects' the same as that of Fig.,1.

What I claim is:

1. In combination iii a relief valve conr struction,. .a casing having an outlet at its lower end, a cap fitting over the upper end "of the casing and secured thereto, and hav ingan als inlet adapted tobe connected to the i0 l E system to be controlled, a diaphragm lying between vthe casing and the cap, a hollow valve stem extending vertically through they diaphragm and -casi-ng, a sleeve screw thread- V ed into the casing in alignment with said.

utlet and receiving the lower end of said stem, a valve seat on thelower face of the cap, a valve ring carried bysaid stem andenof the casing an secured thereto, and having ari-inlet adapted to be connected to the system to be controlled, a diaphragm lying between the casing and the cap, a hollow valve steinl extending verticall through the` diaphragm and casing and ischargmgthrough said outlet, a valve' seat on the lower face f the cap, a valve ping carried by said stem and engaging said seat, and a spring in the casing pressing the diaphragm upwardly and causinfr the valve ring to engage said seat until the pressure in the cap rises above a predetermined point, said valve seat coniprising a plate looselymounted on thelcap, sol that it is free to adjust itself to the face .of the valve ring.

3. In combination in a relief valve construction, ya easing having an outlet at its lower end, a ca litting over the uppery end( of the casing an secured thereto, andthaving an inlet adapted to be connected to the systeinto be controlled, a diaphra m lying between the casing and the cap, a l ollow valve stem extending vertically through the diaphragm and casingand discharging through said outlet, a valve seat on the lower face of the cap, comprising a plate convex on' its upper side and'loosely secured to the cap," a valve ring carried by said'stein and engaging said seat, and a spring in the casing pressing the diaphragm upwardly and causing the valve rin to engage said seat -until the pressure in 't e cap rises above a'pre-l determined point.

4. Incombination in a relief valve vcon-l struction, a casing having an outlet at its lower end, a cap fitting over the upper end of the casing and secured thereto, and having an inletadapted to be connected rtol the syste'm to be controlled, a diaphragm-lying be` tween the casing and the cap, a hollow valve stem extending vertically through the diaphragm and casing, a sleeve screw threaded into the casing in alignment/with said outlet and receiving the lower end oii said Stein, a valve seat onthe lower face of the cap, a valve ring carried by said'stem and 'engaging lsaid seat,'and a' spring surrounding the stem and lying between saidlsleeve and' the diaphragmand-v causing the valven ring to engage said seat, the said sleeveacting as an adjusting means for varying the tension of the spring, and a drainage Bort from the casino' leading into saidnoutletf being provided bellow the lower end of said sleeve. p

5. In combination in areliet' `val\e construction, a casing having an outlet at'its lower end, a cap iitting over the upper end 0f the casing and secured thereto, and having an inlet adapted to be connected tothe system to be' controlled; a diaphragm lyingbetween'the casing and the cap, a hollow vvalve stem extending vertically through the diaphra m and caising,and a sleeve screwy threade into the' casing in alignment with said outlet and receiving the lower end of saidStem, af valve seat on the lower face ot' the cap, a valve ring carried by said stein and engaging said seat, and a spring surrounding the stem and lying between said sleeve and the diaphragm and causing the valve ring to engaete said seat, the said sleeve acting as an aclgjusting means for varyin' the tension of the spring, and being provi ed upon/,its interior with wrench engagsing means-whereby the sleeve may be ad- Ajusted from the exterior of the casing.

6. In combination in arelief valve construction, a casing having an outlet at its` lower end, and being provided with inwardly projecting lugs just above said' outlet, a cap fitting over ,the upper' end ofthe casing and secured thereto \and having an inlet adapted to be connected to the system `to he controlled, a diaphragm lying between the casing and the cap, a hollow valve stein extending vertically through the diaphragm and casing, a uide sleeve for the lower cnil of said stern t ireaded intoiaid lugs, and a spring surrounding said stem and lying be- .tween the sleeve and the diaphragn'n, drainage ponts for the casing being provided leading from the spaces between the lugs to said outlet below the sleeve. 'In testimony 'whereof, I have hereunto sllscribed my name this 18th day .of June, 1 6.

S. F. RICHARDS. 

